Chapter Six #2
“It does, doesn’t it?” She stuck her hands in the pockets of her jacket.
“My best friend is out of town for a few months, and I selfishly dreaded her being gone. This was a good time to find a new friend. Not that I don’t have other friends, but most are married now with their own lives.
Katelyn is married, too, but her husband travels often so we still spend a lot of time together.
Plus, he knew we were a package deal. She’s like family. And now I’m rambling.”
He leaned against the lamppost, smiling. Idle chatter usually annoyed him, but he found Maegan’s rambling endearing. “If it helps any, Nancy’s my only friend here-other than you, now. As much as I love and respect her, it’s nice to have a friend my age.”
“Always glad to help out.”
As much as he would love to keep the conversation lighthearted, he’d stopped for a reason. Flexing his hands, he worked up the courage to tell her what happened with Alyssa. “When you told me about Jess, I understood more than many people would because I had a similar situation.”
“I thought there might be.”
“Alyssa and I were engaged but we didn’t have a date set.
As I mentioned earlier, I was a workaholic, but I thought I was okay because it was for reasons I considered appropriate- I wanted us to enter marriage financially secure, or that’s what I told myself.
Looking back, it went deeper than that. I realized I was trying to earn Alyssa and her family’s approval.
They came from old money and often expressed concern that I couldn’t provide for her in the way to which she was accustomed. ”
Maegan scowled. “That’s horrible.”
He shrugged. “That’s who they were, and I can’t fault them for wanting to make sure Alyssa was well-cared for.
Their approach could have been different, but I also should have been secure enough and strong enough to stand up to them.
Instead, I threw myself into work to prove my worth to them-a fruitless effort.
Even at the top of a law enforcement career, I never would have made enough for them, and all I accomplished was neglecting my relationship in the process. ”
She stood in front of him, listening intently. When she didn’t say anything, he continued.
“About a year ago, I began to realize all that. I used my accrued time off for a sabbatical, thinking it would give Alyssa and I time to work out the problems in our relationship, finally set a date, and start planning the wedding. A week into that time off, I was on social media one day, and to my shock, I saw a post from one of those local tabloids accounts I told you about. There, on the screen, was a photo of Alyssa kissing one of my coworkers with the caption, Engaged Socialite Likes the Uniforms.”
“That explains a lot,” Maegan muttered in a low tone.
“That photo punched me in the gut, and the glib headline made it worse, but I convinced myself there had to be an explanation. I called Alyssa, and she agreed to come over and have an honest conversation. The picture was exactly as it seemed- she had been cheating on me for six months. I called off the wedding and she left crying.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He licked his lips, wishing he could stop the story there. “It gets worse.”
Closing his eyes, he gathered his wits. The nightmare seemed like a lifetime ago but also like it only happened yesterday.
A soft touch to his arm warmed the cold shiver in him. “You don’t have to tell me.”
Slowly he opened his eyes and locked eyes with Maegan.
“If we’re to be good friends, then you should know.
On her way home that day, Alyssa had an accident.
She ran a red light and hit an eighteen-wheeler passing through the intersection.
It’s a miracle she didn’t die on impact, but she was severely injured and left with major brain damage.
After months in the hospital, she passed away last November. ”
Maegan gasped. “I don’t know what to say.”
“There are no words.” He sighed. “Those were the hardest months of my life. I blamed myself for a long time. Some days I still struggle not to. The gossip hounds had a field day with the whole ordeal. I deleted all my social media accounts and haven’t been back on since. Do you know what the kicker was?”
“What?” She stood closely beside him, her eyes full of misty compassion.
“All those months, I felt like a fraud. I couldn’t tell her family we’d called off the engagement.
They would think I was only saying that because we’d never have a normal life even if she’d survived- the injuries were too severe.
But although I loved her as a person, I realized I’d never loved her as a husband should love a wife.
That had played a big part in not setting a date because I knew deep down she wasn’t the one.
Yet, that co-worker with whom she’d had the affair- he genuinely loved her.
Watching his despair in the aftermath was excruciating. ”
“Life can be cruel,” she whispered.
“Exceptionally so. By the time Alyssa had passed, I had come to terms with what happened and forgave her, but I was drained of everything in me. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I knew I needed a change. I prayed, and prayed some more, begging God to show me what next. After one of those prayers, Nancy called within minutes to check on me. She’s always had this sixth sense to know what’s needed. ”
“That’s a God thing.”
“I agree. Nancy and I have been close for years. When Charles and I were roommates, she made sure to always include me in her care packages and invited me along for meals when they came to visit. She’s been a second mom for so long, but even so, our calls were usually relegated to the weekend, never in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. God nudged her, and she listened.”
“I love that.”
“During that call, she suggested a change of scenery, that she’d love to have me in Dogwood Creek.
At first, I balked. I wanted a change, but not that big of one.
It felt like running away from my problems, and I didn’t want to leave my dad and sisters.
She ended the call with one request- that I pray specifically about moving here. ”
She looked at him with a knowing smile. “Judging from your presence here, I can guess the answer you received.”
“Once I had an answer and accepted it, peace washed over me. The process took several months, but here I am.”
“Do you plan to stay here permanently?” She crossed her arms and shivered.
Taking the cue, he began walking again, this time in the direction of her home.
The temperature had dropped again, into the downright cold territory, and he didn’t want to monopolize her time.
“Honestly? I’m not sure. A month ago, before I even got here, I’d have said no.
My house is a monthly rental, and I have a six-months probationary period with the sheriff’s department.
I’d planned to get away from Charlotte for a while, regroup, then go home. ”
“But now?”
“Dogwood Creek is starting to feel like home.”
“The town has that effect,” she said, with a note of pride.
Too soon, they arrived at The Olde Yarn Shoppe, and he walked with her around back and up the steps to her back door.
She leaned against the rail. “Tonight was fun. Your idea had me leery at first, but I’m glad I went along with it.”
In all the conversation, he’d almost forgotten their purpose for tonight’s date. “Do you think the word’s spread?”
An impish smirk graced her face, and she held up her phone for him to see. “You tell me.”
He read the text on the screen. “You didn’t tell me you had a date tonight. Who is this mystery guy?”
“My friend, Morgan, who, other than Katelyn, is the friend least likely to involve herself in gossip, so yes, I’d say the word is out.”
“You weren’t kidding about word traveling fast.”
“Are you okay with that?” she asked, understanding his past.
“This was my idea, so as long as it’s not malicious.”
“What next?”
“Would you mind if I tagged along with you to church? Not as part of our scheme- I wouldn’t feel comfortable using church like that, but I’d like to find a church while I’m here.
Nancy will be out of town this Sunday, and there’s something about walking into a church by myself that feels exceptionally lonely.
” He scrunched his nose, “And I can’t believe I just admitted that to you. ”
“You’re not wrong. I go to New England every fall for a huge fiber festival and make it a point to try a different church every year.
Last year, Katelyn came with me and the difference it made walking in with someone I knew was palpable.
” She touched his arm briefly. “You’re absolutely welcome to come to church with me. ”
He got the details from her, and they agreed he’d pick her up before the service. Reluctantly he said goodnight, but he walked to his truck, fully content and happy for the first time in a year.